The last week has been very frustrating.
First, I'm totally lost trying to figure out how to edit the audio samples for the music soundtrack. After screwing it up a few times, I just gave up and ordered a how-to book for the software. I have a few friends that are musicians, so I'm going to try to hook up with them to give a primer. Problem is that one works with PCs (I have a Mac of course) and the other is very high-end and uses Pro-Tools (which I cannot afford).
I did get one proto-song created, which was VERY rewarding. Nothing major: just about a minute or so of ethereal background soundscape. But if I can refine my composition a bit, that's certainly in the ballpark of the type of movie music I want to create.
But that victory was buried under the subsequent confusion and repeated errors in trying to modify a sample. Basically, I just don't know how to do it right.
Writing has been tough as well. I'm at the point of moving from the notecards to the full outline (don't worry, I'll still use the notecards, but the outline and treatment will be how I will start to get feedback from others). I want to use a screenwriting application to get the formatting and process correct, right from the start, rather than work in Word.
Of course, nothing is easy. The software I bought at MacWorld (Mariner Software's Montage) is too new and doesn't have a real notecard function nor the important ability to do two-column screenplays. I need the two-column format since the whole thing has voice-over -- often over the location dialogue.
Looking at (cheap/free) alternatives, the open source Celtx program also lacked notecard functionality. How do these programmers think we're supposed to write screenplays without notecards or other way to summarize and move around scenes -- and print out outlines/treatments? I guess they expect us to do this stuff outside of their application, which I find totally unacceptable. Is it too much to ask to have it all connected in one place?
So now I'm looking at going straight to the top of the line in screenwriting software and have decided to buy Final Draft, both the main program and Final Draft AV. FD AV will allow me to do a full two-column script. I didn't even know the separate AV program existed, and it's perfect for what I'm doing. A bit more expensive, but between eBay and my upcoming academic discount, it should be around $200 for both (a steal).
During this research process, I have basically stopped writing, which has been very depressing. It's like being on a roadtrip and having to work on the car instead of drive. It's killing me.
So I've decided to start working with Word (ug) while I wait for my academic discount to materialize.
As for the music, we'll see if the book will do the trick and perhaps with help from my musical friends I can start making progress.
Overall, I feel like I've been lost in the woods and not making any progress -- and the weeks are just sliding by as my savings run out.....